Innovative Densification Process of a Fe-Cr-C Powder Metallurgy Steel

In this study, the efficacy of an innovative ultra-fast sintering technique called electro-sinter-forging (ESF) was evaluated in densification Fe-Cr-C steel. Although ESF proved to be effective densifying several different metallic materials and composites, it has not yet been applied powder metallurgy steels. Pre-alloyed Astaloy CrM powders have ad-mixed with either graphite or graphene then processed by ESF. By properly tuning process parameters, final densities higher than 99% were obtained. Mechanical properties such as hardness transverse rupture strength (TRS) tested on samples produced employing parameters submitted post-treatments (machining, heat treatment). A up 1340 ± 147 MPa achieved after treatment, corresponding a 852 41 HV. The experimental characterization highlighted that porosity is main factor affecting samples’ mechanical resistance, correlating linearly strength. Conversely, possible establish similar interdependency between since effect properties.